‘In-Principle Understanding Reached with Centre’: Sonam Wangchuk on Restoring Democracy in Ladakh After Talks with MHA
ABL and KDA said the proposed body would give elected representatives legislative and financial powers and place bureaucrats under a chief minister.
- On Friday, May 22, 2026, the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance reached an "in-principle understanding" with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on restoring democracy in Ladakh with legislative and financial powers.
- Demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule protections have driven LAB and KDA's long-standing agitation since Ladakh was separated from Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 without constitutional safeguards.
- Under the proposed mechanism, Ladakh will receive administrative and legislative powers through a Union Territory-level elected body headed by a "Chief Minister," with bureaucrats including the Chief Secretary operating under this elected authority.
- MHA officials explained Ladakh currently lacks adequate revenue generation to meet employee salaries, preventing immediate statehood; however, this arrangement will lead to full statehood once revenue criteria are met.
- LAB and KDA leaders will continue consultations with the MHA involving legal and constitutional experts to finalize operational details, with the MHA expected to send a draft of proposed changes soon.
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16 Articles
Centre offers Article 371-style safeguards, legislative body for Ladakh
New Delhi: The Centre has made an offer for constitutional safeguards under Article 371, instead of the Sixth Schedule, and a legislative body for Ladakh, activists from the region said on Saturday, May 23, while stressing that discussions were still underway and no final agreement had been reached. Talking to PTI a day after their meeting with a sub-committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), activist Sonam Wangchuk said the government had…
ABP News
LAB, KDA claim to have reached 'in-principle understanding' with Centre
New Delhi, May 22 (PTI): Two prominent civil society groups from Ladakh--Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA)--on Friday claimed to have reached an 'in-principle understanding' with the Centre on providing constitutional safeguards to the Union Territor.
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